Liverpool entertain Manchester City on New Year’s Eve as the Anfield showpiece brings down the curtain on an unforgettable 2016 in the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have won their last three matches and go into Saturday’s encounter unbeaten at Anfield in the league since a 1-0 loss at home to Manchester United on January 17.

Since then, they have recorded ten wins and six draws from their 16 matches at home, one of which includes a 3-0 win over Saturday’s opponents earlier this year.

However, under new boss Pep Guardiola, City are steadily improving and, like Liverpool, have won their last three league matches, the latest of which was a 3-0 success at Hull on Boxing Day.

The Citizens are just a point and place behind Klopp’s side ahead of Saturday’s clash as both sides look to get the three points in a bid to keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea.

Only the Blues have picked up more points on the road than Guardiola’s men this season, so it’s all set up to be a fascinating encounter at Anfield.

With the build-up well underway ahead of tomorrow’s clash, we at Shoot! have picked out and analysed the THREE key battles which could determine the outcome on New Year’s Eve…

Sadio Mane vs Aleksandar Kolarov

It remains to be seen how Klopp lines up against City – whether he plays the three forwards or starts Daniel Sturridge ahead of Divock Origi is very much up in the air.

Nonetheless, in-form winger Sadio Mane will appear in the starting eleven, and will look forward to going up against a shaky and at times unconvincing Manchester City defence.

The Senegalese international has scored eight goals and laid on four assists for the Reds this season, and has arguably been their go-to man in Philippe Coutinho’s absence.

His preferred position down the right, albeit the front three usually interchange throughout the 90 minutes, is likely to pit him against Aleksandar Kolarov, whether Guardiola plays him in a back three or as the left centre-back in a back four.

The Serbian international has not been the worst City defender this season, but he is clearly vulnerable to pace and driving runs but, more importantly, Kolarov gets forward on a regular basis, which could open up space for Mane to exploit.

How both men play off the ball is likely to determine the success of this battle.

Sergio Aguero vs Dejan Lovren

City welcome Sergio Aguero back into the squad for the trip to Liverpool after serving his four-match suspension for a horrific tackle on David Luiz at the start of the month.

And he’ll almost certainly come straight back into the side against the Reds, which means that defender Dejan Lovren will have his hands full at Anfield on Saturday evening.

The Croatian international has been improving under Klopp this season, and has performed well in Liverpool’s last three games, in which time they have conceded just once.

However, you still sense that Lovren has an error in him and, against Aguero, that will be magnified and likely punished.

Both teams will need to press high, certainly in the early exchanges, and this is something Aguero has added to his game under Guardiola, and he’ll be the one tasked with leading from the front against the Reds and potentially forcing an error out of the Liverpool back four.

Aguero has scored ten goals in 12 Premier League games this season, and he’ll be looking forward to testing out an improving but still questionable Liverpool backline this weekend.

Adam Lallana vs Fernandinho

Adam Lallana has been Liverpool’s best player over the last few weeks, and his role in the centre of midfield both offensively and defensively will be key on Saturday.

The England international has scored four goals in his last four games, and has netted in each of his last two matches at Anfield against both Stoke and West Ham.

His on-the-ball quality is undoubted, and it will be up to City’s Fernandinho to minimise his influence on proceedings.

The 31-year-old returned from suspension in the 3-0 win over Hull on Boxing Day, and such is his importance to this City team in the middle of the park, he’ll retain his place on Saturday.

The Brazilian international is tenacious, strong, and gets around the pitch, and he’ll have to stay disciplined off the ball in a bid to thwart Lallana’s impact.

The same can also be said of Lallana, as Fernandinho sometimes drives at defences and launches attacks from the midfield, so the Liverpool man, as part of a midfield trio of Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum, will also need off-the-ball discipline to win the midfield battle.